Yarn feeding control means for



Aug. 9, 1960 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 N. LEVIN YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. A/a than [awn W/MW A TTORNE Y.

9, 1960 N. LEVIN 2,948,131

YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Nat/Ian Lev/n ATTORNEY.

Aug. 9, 1960 N. LEVIN YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 8 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1956,

FLE 4 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 9, 1960 N. LEVIN 2,948,131 YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 1a, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIK P1. E El /a/// 4: 49 47 4/ INVENTOR. Na Man Zew'n ATTORNEY.

Filed Dec.

s- 1960 N. LEVIN 2,948,131

YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 18, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FL r3 U II- III INVENTOR. Nathan Levin BYM//% ATTORNEY.

Aug. 9, 1960 N. LEVIN 2,948,131 YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 40 I 72 39 I I 60 l 521 g 50 55 a I I I 5/ A I V I 57 a2 PlErl7 PlE- l5 I/7I6/55 are 76494 INVENTOR. Nat/Ian Lev/n ATTORNEY.

Allg- 9, 1960 N. LEVIN YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 18, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 8 r {2 [7 I $75. E-

-' INVENTOR Nathan Lei/1n United States. Patent YARN FEEDING CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES The present invention relates generally to the art of knitting and more particularly to yarn finger control apparatus for circular knitting machinery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for the cyclical operation of one or more yarn guiding fingers at each of one or more knitting stations of a circular knitting machine, with particular reference to the operation of the yarn fingers during reciprocatory knitting strokes of the machine. In one form of the invention, the yarn fingers are adapted to be operated once per knitting stroke, while in asecond form, the yarn fingers are adapted to be operated once per pair of successive knitting strokes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an intermittently oscillating ring member operatively related to at least a pair of pattern controlled yarn fingers at each of a plurality of knitting stations of a circular multifeed knitting machine, whereby movement of said ring in opposite directions is adapted, at each of said stations, to simultaneously move said yarn fingers into and out of yarn feeding positions. The oscillating ring member is preferably actuated from a rotary member of the machine in such manner that the ring member may have a movement for each knitting stroke or may have a movement for each pair of successive knitting strokes.

The form of the invention, in which the ring member is adapted to move once per knitting stroke of the machine, is particularly adapted to be used in the method of knitting set forth in my Patent No. 2,917,912, issued December 22, 1959, for the reciprocatory knitting of suture joined areas of tubular fabric ornamented with overplaid design yarns. In said patent, the overplaid yarns are introduced at each of the four knitting stations by means of a spaced pair of relatively stationary yarn fingers disposed at an intermediate level between their full idle and full feeding positions. By means of the present invention, the overplaid yarn feeding fingers, at each knitting station, may be alternately moved into and out of feeding positions in successive knitting strokes of the machine to provide more positive feeding and nonfeeding positions of the yarns relative to the needles. Certain of the overplaid yarns are thus placed in feeding positions for alternate single knitting strokes of the machine and are placed in non-feeding positions for the intervening single knitting strokes, while other of the overplaid yarns are placed in non-feeding positions -for the alternate single knitting strokes and are placed in feeding positions for the intervening single knitting strokes.

In the other form of the invention, in which the ring member is adapted to move once per pair of successive knitting strokes, at each of the feeds, certain of the yarn fingers are adapted to be placed in feeding positions for alternate pairs of successive knitting strokes and are adapted to be placed in non-feeding positions for the intervening pairs of successive knitting strokes, While other of the yam fingers are adapted to be placed in non-feeding 'positions for the alternate pairs of strokes 2,948,131 Patented Aug. 9, 1960 2 and are adapted to be placed in feeding positions for the intervening pairs of strokes. Thus, at each of the feeds, each of at least a pair of yarns may be alternately placed in feeding position so that each yarn may be knit back and forth on the same or on difierent groups of needles.

It is within the scope of the present invention to operate the yarn finger moving apparatus at the various knitting stations in such manner that the yarn fingers are alternately operated in accordance with the two forms of the invention, i.e., the yarn fingers may be moved once per pair of knitting strokes, at certain or at all of the stations, while for each of the next pair of knitting strokes, the same or other yarn fingers, at certain or at all of the stations, may be moved once per knitting stroke.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, the features of construction, and the combination and cooperation of parts, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the sinker ring portion and associated parts of a multi-feed circular knitting machine and of the apparatus of the present invention in position on said machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of one of the knitting stations of said machine as taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. =1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another .portion "of the apparatus of the present invention as taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the present apparatus showing the oscillatable ring in one of its operating positions, corresponding to the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5 showing the ring in the other of its operative positions;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the fingers positioned oppositely to that shown in Fig. 2 and corresponding to the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the yarn fingers and a portion of the ring showing these parts in the position of Fig. 7, as taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the parts in the position of'Fig. 2; i

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the invention wherein the ring member is moved once per pair of knitting strokes; i

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2, as taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the gear driven pin for operating the ring, as taken on line 1212 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the means for stopping the ring oscillations, as taken on line 13- 13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a side ,elevational view showing the reduced gear drive for thering operating pin and the pattern control for rendering the pin inoperative;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the finge raising members interposed between the ring and the yarn fingers; i

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic plan view, similar to 'Figs. 5 and 6, showing the oscillatable ring in one of its two positions,.tl1e.other position being shown in Fig. 10; and

2,94 s,131 Y e Figs. 17 and 18 are views similar to Figs. 8 and 9, showing the positions of the yarn fingers in relation to their raising members and to the ring.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably associated with a multi-feed circular knitting machine of the type disclosed in the application of Benjamin Franklin Coile, Serial No. 329,801, filed January 6, 1953, to which reference may be made.

In themachine shown in Figure l, a stationary sinker cap is indicated at 10, this sinker cap being associated with a needle cylinder which is adapted to rotate at times and to reciprocate at other times, the extent of the reciprocation being generally 360 degrees in each direction. The machine is provided With four circumferentially spaced knitting stations, generally indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 14, and, as a portion of the component parts of each of the knitting stations, there is provided a plurality of individual yarn guide fingers pivotally mounted and movable into and out of action under the control of a yarn control drum 19. The yarn fingers, four in number at each of the stations, are similarly indicated at 15, 16, 17 and 18 and are under the control of the individual yarn control drums 19 associated therewith at each of the stations. Each of the yarn drums 19 is adapted to be indexed at certain times by a suitable ratchet and pawl mechanism 20 under control of the main pattern drums (not shown) of the machine, as set forth in the said Coile application.

The set of yarn fingers 15, 16, 17 and 18, at each of the knitting stations, is pivotally supported within a housing 21 upon a horizontal pin 22 supported in and extending between the opposite side walls 23 of said housing. Also supported within said housing is a set of four yarnfinger-lifters 24, the lifters being pivotally mounted upon a horizontal pin 25 supported in and extending between the opposite side Walls 23 of the housing. The lifters, individually associated with the yarn fingers, are adapted to selectively move the latter under control of the yarn control drum 19, depending upon the location of buttons 26 upon the outer face of the drum, the buttons being placed in accordance with the yarn finger selections desired. There may be a row of buttons 26 for each lifter 24 and a button will depress one end 27 of the lifter to raise its other end 28, the latter in turn raising its associated yarn finger to inactive position, this being the highest level indicated in Fig. 2. In the absence of a button 26, the associated yarn finger will be movable to its yarn feeding position, this being the lowest position shown in Fig. 2, by a suitably anchored tensioned spring 29, there being one of the latter operatively related to the tail ends of each of the yarn fingers.

In this manner, at each of the knitting stations, there is a pattern means 19 adapted to individually control the positions of the yarn fingers. In accordance with the instant invention, there is, in addition, means to periodically move the fingers 15 and 18, at each of the stations, alternately into and out of feeding positions, providing I the control of the pattern drums 19 is such as to permit this to take place, that is, during the absence of buttons 26 on the pattern drums to place the fingers 15 and 18 in feeding positions.

The four yarn finger housings 21 are equidistantly spaced upon the top of the sinker cap 10, the inner faces of the housings, as indicated at 30, being suitably formed to provide bearing surfaces for a ring member 31 placed on said sinker cap and adapted to oscillate thereon within said bearings. A mechanism is provided to intermittently move said ring 31, in one form of the invention, once for each knitting stroke of the machine, from a suitable power source, as, for example, the upright rotary shaft 32 of the machine. This shaft is located to the rear of station 13, being the shaft 176 of the Coile application, and is adapted to make one revolution of 360 degrees during the time that the needle cylinder makes two suc cessive individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting, that is, during the time that the needle cylinder travels 360 4 degrees in one direction and 360 degrees in the opposite direction.

The shaft 32 has its upper end capped by an angularly adjustable flat-top circular housing 33 adapted to be secured in adjusted position to the shaft by one or more suitably positioned set screws. The upper portion of the housing 33 is provided with an off center circular aperture 34 within which is positioned an angularly adjustable plug-like member 35 having an 011 center pin 36 extending upwardly therefrom, the member 35 being secured in adjusted position by means of one or more suitably positioned set screws. In this manner the pin 36 may be adjusted both radially and angularly with respect to the shaft 32. The pin 36 is adapted to rotate in counterclockwise direction, Fig. l, to alternately engage cam shaped ends 37 and 38 of a pair of rocker arms 39 and 4f) operatively related to the ring 31. The opposite ends of rocker arms 39 and 40 are suitably apertured to encircle the upright sleeve portion 41a of a circular base 41, the latter being disposed so as to be rotatably jour} nailed upon a vertically extending shaft 42 and being positioned on the shaft 42 by a pair of set-screw held collars 42a. A double bent arm 43 is also secured to the base 41 to extend generally upwardly therefrom, the arm 43 being apertured at one end thereof to encircle the sleeve 41a and being slotted at its other end, as at 43a, where the latter overlies the ring 31. The ring 31 is provided with an upstanding pin 44 positioned within the slot 43a. As may be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the arms 39 and 49 are provided with arcuate shaped slots 39a and 40a and the arm 43 is suitably apertured so that headed screws 41b may pass therethrough for threaded engagement with the base 41, thereby securing the arms 39, 40 and 43 to said base. The arms 39 and 40, by virtue of the slots 39a and 40a, may be angularly adjusted relative to each other and to the arm 43. Accordingly, to and fro movements of the arms 39 and 40 by the pin 36 causes the ring 31 to be oscillated on the sinker cap 10. The shaft 42 is one of the uprights used to support drum 19 of knitting station 13 and is the member 40112 of said Coile application.

As may be seen in Fig. 5, when the pin 36 has moved in counterclockwise direction to the position shown, it has already engaged with and moved up the cam face 45 of the arm 39 to rock the arms 39, 40 and 43 in counterclockwise direction and to thereby move the ring 31 in clockwise direction to the position shown in this view. In doing this, the arm 40 will be moved closer to the center of member 33. As the pin 36 continues to move in a counterclockwise direction and reaches the position of Fig. 6, that is, approximately degrees later, it will have already engaged with and moved up the cam face 46 of the arm 40' to rock the arms 39, 40 and 43 in the opposite or clockwise direction to thereby move the ring 31 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in this view. In doing this, the arm 39 will be moved closer to the center of member 33 Where its cam face 45 will be in position to be once again engaged by the pin 36 as the latter continues its rotary movement. Thus the rotary pin 36 will continue to impart intermittent oscillatory movements to the ring 31, the latter in turn controlling the positions of the yarn guide fingers 15 and 18 at each of the knitting stations as will now be explained.

The outer faces of outerfingers 15 and 18, at each of the stations, are provided with rounded projections 47, 47 disposed so as to overlie the ring 31, while the latter, also at each of the stations, is provided on its upper face with a pair of suitably spaced cams 48, 48 having angled surfaces 49, 49 for engagement with the undersides of the projections 47, 47, so that the latter may alternately ride up and come to rest upon one or the other of the cams 48, 48 when the ring 31 is oscillated. Accordingly, when the ring 31 has been moved to the position of Figs. 5 and 9, the fingers 18,

iii each of the stations, will have been moved by the action of projections 47 and cams '48 to inactive nonfeedifig' level, while the fingers 15, at each of the stations, will have been moved to active yarn feeding level, by the action of springs 29. Similarly when the ring 31 has been moved to the position of Figs. 6 and 8, the fingers 15, at each of the stations, will have been moved by the action of projections 47 and earns 48 to inactive non-feeding level, while the fingers 18, at each of the stations, will have been moved to active yarn feeding level, by the action of springs 29. I

As the machine continues to reciprocate, the ring 31 is alternately moved in opposite directions to alternately idle the fingers "15 and 18, of each of the stations, to provide the proper yarn feeding arrangements for the yarns fed through these fingers. In the particular arrangement shown, the yarns which are thus alternately placed in feeding positions are intended to be those used to form the overplaid design in the manner set forth in Patent No. 2,917,912 however, it will be understood that the present yarn finger control apparatus may have other applications. The present arrangement is such that a relatively short angular travel of pin 36, as compared to a complete revolution of the shaft 32, is sufiicient to impart a movement to the ring 31, so that the ring 31 is moved during a relatively small portion of a knitting stroke. Inasmuch as the pin 36 is angularly adjustable :through 360 degrees, it follows that the movements of 3 ring 31 may be caused to take place during any portion of the knitting stroke and may take place when the a cylinder is reversing its direction of travel. the pin 36 is so adjusted that the movement of ring 31 i is completed prior to the commencement of knitting by the first needles selected to knit an overplaid yarn. Each :movement of the ring 31 is preferably, but not neces- :sarily, opposite to the next knitting stroke, for example, iif a knitting stroke is to be in clockwise direction, then ifor that stroke the ring 31 has been moved in the opposite Preferably rdirection thereto in order that the proper yarns will the in feeding positions, and vice versa.

.As set forth in the Coile application, the knitting machine stations are each associated with a particular group of needles during reciprocatory knitting, each of the needle groups forming a pattern section of the tubular fabric. The relation of each knitting station to its needle group (even though certain needles of adjoining groups may be common to both groups and may be operated at least at adjacent stations) is such that the needle group overtravels past the station (all the needles being out of its sphere of action) in each direction of knitting in what may be called the period of overtravel during which time a new needle selection may be made at the stations for the return strokes. It is generally during this period of overtravel that the ring 31 is moved, and, due to the very short time needed to move the same, the timing of the ring movement may be such that it may remain in each of its two positions during the knittingperiod-tirne that certain needles of the needle groups move in both directions past their stations, so that each of the yarn fingers 15 and 18 may remain in feeding positions long enough to supply yarns to the certain needles during the knitting periods of opposite strokes, in which event each of the overplaid yarns, instead of being 'knit in only one direction of knitting, may be knit in .both directions of knitting or may be knit in either one -of the directions of knitting, depending upon the needle selections for each of the knitting strokes.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. through 18, wherein the ring 31 is moved once for each two successive knitting strokes, that is, the ring is moved to one of its two positions where it remains while a forward and a reverse stroke of reciprocating knitting take place, and thereafter the ring is moved to thelotherof its two positions where it remains while the next forward and reverse strbkes of reciprocating knitting take place, after which the sequence is repeated. Additionally, pattern controlled means is provided to discontinue movement of the ring 31 at certain times during the knitting, the ringbeing idled in one of its two positions. Means is also provided whereby a change, under pattern control, may be made in the yarn fingers which are elevated by the ring 31, that is, instead of the -ring 31 elevating only the outer fingers 15 and 18, the present apparatus is adapted to elevate either the fingers 15 or 16 selectively or the fingers 17 or 18 selectively. It will be understood that this yarn finger change feature may also be used in connection with the first form of the invention, wherein the ring 31 is moved once for each knitting stroke of the machine.

As may be seen in Fig. 14, the shaft 32 is capped by a housing angularly adjustable relative to the shaft and fixable thereto by means of one or more set screws 51. A horizontal spur gear 52, fixed to the housing 50, is in driving engagement with a horizontal spur gear 53 of twice the pitch diameter of gear 52. The face of gear 52 is wider than that of gear 53 so that the latter may continue to be driven even though it be raised and lowered, within limits, relative to the gear 52. The gear 53 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow hub 54 adapted to be vertically rotatably journalled within a suitable upright aperture in a housing 55, forming a part of bifurcated bracket 56, the bracket itself being secured to the upper plate 57 of the machine by means of a suitable headed screw 58 extending through the bifurcation in threaded engagement with said plate. A compression spring 59 disposed within the hub 54, between gear 53 and bracket 56, is of sufiicient strength to raise gear 53 to its upper position shown in Fig. 11, against a stop to bedescribed. The gear 53 is provided with an ofl? center upstanding pin 60, similar to pin 36 of the first modification, and is also adapted to engage with and rock the arms 39 and 40.

As may be seen in Fig. 10, the gear 52 and shaft 32 rotate in a counterclockwise direction so that gear 53 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, and, since gear 53 moves at half the speed of gear 52, the pin 60 makes one complete revolution of 360 degrees during the time the needle cylinder makes four successive strokes of reciprocatory knitting. Since the pin 60 moves in clockwise direction, the arms 39 and 40 are reversed in position on the base 41 (and angularly adjusted relative to the gear 53 instead of shaft 32) so that the pin 60 may be in proper operative relation to cam surfaces 45 and 46.

In the position shown in Fig. 10, the pin 60 has moved arm 40 counterclockwise to the full extent of its movement in this direction, and this motion is transmitted through arm 43. to ring 31 to cause the latter to be moved clockwise to one of its two positions. It will be noted that arm 39 is moved toward the center of gear 53 as arm 40 is moved away therefrom. As gear 53 continues to rotate to the position of Fig. 16, a full degrees later, the arm 39 is moved clockwise by pin 60 to thereby move ring 31 counterclockwise to the second of its two positions. Continued movement of gear 53 causes pin 60 to alternately engage and alternately move the arms 39 and 40 to thereby move the ring 31 back and forth, eachmovement of the ring taking place once for two successive knitting strokes. Angilar adjustment of pin 60 may be made by angular adjustment of gear 52 relative to shaft 32, and this will adjust the movement of ring 31 relative to the knitting strokes. It will be obvious that by using another gear 53 of other pitch diameter relative to the pitch diameter of gear 52, that the pin 60 of gear 53 will rotate at a different speed to oscillate the ring 31 relative to a different number of knitting strokes.

In order to idle ring 31, the gear 53 and pin 60 are lowered so that pin 60 is able to engage arm 39 but is not able toengage arm 40, as shown in Fig. 14, so that ring 31 remains in the position shown in this view as the gear '53 continues to rotate. A 1ever61 is pivotally mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft 62 suitably secured to a fixed portion of the machine and is retained in place on the shaft by collars 63, 63. One end 64 of the lever 61 is adapted to overlie the central portion of gear 53, while the other end 65 of the lever is provided with a rounded projection 66 adapted to overlie the cam surface of a main cam drum 67. The upper end of the drum 67 is provided with arcuate cams 68 and 69, the upper faces of which are at different levels, and, as the drum is caused to move in a clockwise direction, the projection 66 is caused to move from one cam level to another, up cam face 70 to cam 69 and down from cam 69 at its end 71, to cam 68. A rod 72 extends upwardly from and is threadedly engaged with gear 53 at its center, the upper end of the rod 72 being provided with an adjustable nipple 73 in threaded engagement therewith, the nipple being locked in position by means of a lock nut 74 also in threaded engagement with rod 72. The upper end of nipple 73 is adapted to contact the underside of the end 64 of lever 61. With projection 66 of lever 61 on cam 68-, compression spring 59 urges gear 53 and rod 72 upwardly, and the parts are so arranged and adjusted that the gear 53 is stopped in the position of Fig. 11, wherein pin 60 is adapted to engage arms 39 and 40. When drum 67 has turned so that cam 69 is under projection 66, the lever 61 is pivoted to depress rod 72 and gear 53 so that pin 60 is now at a level to miss arm 40 and to engage only arm 39, as shown in Fig. 14. Should gear 53 be free to rise when pin 60 is under arm 39 or 40, the spring 59 will permit a delay in the movement without damage to the parts. The length of cam 69 is adjusted so that the ring 31 is idled during knitting of the non-patterned areas of the stocking and is made active during knitting of the patterned areas. With the pin 60 in its lower position, it will keep arm 39 and ring 31 in the position shown in Fig. 16 as the gear 53 continues to rotate.

Instead of the ring 31 actuating only the yarn fingers and 18, means is provided whereby a change in the actuated yarn fingers may be made at desired times to make yarn changes in the fabric. To this end, pivoted yarn finger raising members 75 are provided at each feed on the outer sides of yarn fingers 15 and 18, as may be seen in Fig. 15. The members 75 are pivotally mounted on pin 22, upon which the yarn fingers themselves are mounted, within the housing 21, and extend alongside the outer fingers '15 and 18 to a point approximately above the ring 31 where the members 75 are each provided with outwardly extending rounded projections 76. The cams '48 are adapted to alternately engage the projections 76 to cause alternate raising and lowering of the finger raising members 75.

Each of the members 75 is provided with inwardly projecting pins 77 extending under one or more of the yarn fingers, and, as here shown, one pin 77 extends under fingers 15 and 16 while the other pin 77 extends under fingers 17 and 18. Obviously, a pin 77 may be of a length to extend under more than a pair of yarn fingers. It will also be understood that all of the fingers need not have a pin 77 thereunder, and that the number of yarn fingers at each feed may be greater than the four yarn fingers here shown. Each member 75 is provided with a stop 78, located below the pin 77, to engage with surface 79, forming a part of housing 21, to form a limit stop for the downward movement of the members 75.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18, as ring 31 moves to the left, one cam 48 will raise the right hand member 75 while the other cam 48 will permit the left hand member 75 to move to its lowered position. The spring actuated finger 17, in its lowered position, will act on pin 77 to lower the left hand member 75. The right hand member 75, as it is raised, will cause its pin 77 to raise the yarn finger 15 to non-feeding position. It will be noted that fingers 16 and 18 are not aifected by the movements of the members 75 since they are selectively held in non-feeding positions by their finger lifters 24 which are actuated by appropriate buttons 26 on the yarn control drum 19. The yarn fingers 15 and 17, however, are in feeding positions relative to and are permitted by the yarn control drum 19 to be raised and lowered by the finger raising members 75. Then as the ring 31 moves to the right, Fig. 18, the left hand cam 48 will raise left hand member 75 to cause its pin 77 to raise finger 17 to nonfeeding position while the right hand cam 48 will move out from under the right hand member 75 to permit the finger 15 to move to yarn feeding position.

At appropriate times, when a yarn. change is desired, one or both of the fingers 15 and 17 may be selectively raised to non-feeding positions by action of buttons 26 on the yarn control drum 19 to take these fingers out of operating relation to the finger raising members 75, while, at the same time, one or both of the yarn fingers 16 and 18 may be selectively placed in feeding positions by the yarn control drum 19 to permit these fingers to be raised and lowered by the members '75. It will be understood that one or more fingers may be placed between the fingers 16 and 17, and, with no pins 77 thereunder the added fingers will be under the sole control of the yarn control drum 19. If desired, springs, similar to the springs 29 acting on the yarn fingers, may be secured to the finger raising members 75 to return them to lowered positions.

Having thus described my invention in full detail, it will be understood that these details need not be strictly adhered to and that various changes and modifications may be made all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

.1. A circular knitting machine having at least four knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the movement of said fingers between said positions at each of said stations, and a single additional means to control the movement of said yarn fingers between said positions at each of said stations for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting.

2. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, and means comprising a single actuating member operable at each of said knitting stations to control the movement of said yarn fingers between said positions at each of said stations for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting.

3. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means individual to each of said stations to selectively control the movement of the yarn fingers between said positions thereat, and a single additional intermittently movable means to control the movement of said yarn fingers between said positions at each of said stations for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting.

4. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at 9. into and out of yarn feeding positions ateach of said stations, pattern means to selectively control said fingers, an intermittently movable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control said fingers for individual strokes of reciproc-atory knitting, and means for moving said ring member once for each of said strokes.

6. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, aplurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control said fingers for individual strokes of reciprocatony knitting, and means for moving said ring member in one direction for alternate strokes of reciprocatory knitting.

7. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control saidfingers,

'an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control said fingers for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting, and means for moving said ring member forward and back fora pair of successive strokes of'reciprocatory knitting.

8. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding postions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said, stations to control said fingers for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting, and means for moving said ring member in onedirection for a knitting stroke in the, opposite. direction.

9. A circular knitting machine having a plurailty of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feedingpositions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control the positions of said fingers for individual knitting strokes, and a rotary member adapted to intermittently move said ring member.

10. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at eachof said stations, pattern means to selectively control thepositions of said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control the positions of said fingers for individual knitting strokes, and a rotary member adapted to intermittently move said ring member, said rotary member making a single revolution to a pair of knitting strokes.

11. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control the positions of said fingers for individual knitting strokes, and means for moving said ring member during a relatively small portion of a knitting stroke.

12.. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a sinker cap, a plurality of yarn feeding 10 fingers movable .into ando'ut of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member positioned on said sinker cap in op erative association with said fingers at each of said stations to control the positions of said fingers, and means to move said ring member to thereby move said fingers;

13. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a sinker cap, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers overlying said sinker cap and pivotally movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said fingers at each of said stations, an intermit tently oscillatable ring member positioned on said sinker cap, cooperating cam surfaces on said ring member and on said fingers at each of said stations, and meansto move said ring member to cause said cooperating cam surfaces to thereby move said fingers.

14. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at; said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means individual to each of saidstations to selectively control the positions of the yarn. fingers thereat, and intermittently movable means to control the positions of certain ofthe yarn fingers at each of said stations for individual strokes of reciprocatory knitting, said last named means being adjustable so that the control effect thereof is applicable during any portion of said knitting strokes.

15. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a sinker cap, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers overlying said cap and pivotally movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said' fingers at each of said stations, an intermittently oscillatable ring member positioned on said sinker cap in operative relationship with said fingers at each of said stations to control the positions thereof, a rotary member, and means interposed between said rotary member and saidring member to move the latter to thereby position said fingers at each of said stations.

16. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted toreciprocatorily knit at said stations, a sinker cap; a plurality of yarn feeding: fingers movableinto and out of yarn feeding positions at each of'said stations, pattern means to selectively con trol the positions of said fingers at each of said stations, an intermittently oscillatable ring member. positioned on said sinker cap in operative relationship with said fingers at each'of said stations to control the positions thereof, a rotary member, an off center pin operatively related to said rotary member, and a rocker member interposed between said pin and said ring member whereby said pin is operative to alternately move said ring member in opposite directions to thereby position said fingers at each of said stations.

17. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a sinker cap, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the positions of said fingers at each of said stations, an intermittently oscillatable ring operatively related to said sinker cap in operative relationship with certain of the fingers at each of said stations to control the positions thereof, a rotary member having an off center pin, a rocker member interposed between said pin and said ring member, said rocker member having a pair of arms straddling said pin, said pin being adapted to alternately engage said arms to oscillate said rocker member to thereby move said ring member in opposite directions to position said fingers at each of said stations.

knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn fingers movable into and out of feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control the movement of said fingers between said positions at each of said stations, and means comprising a single actuating member operable at each of said stations to cyclically control the movement of said yarn fingers between said positions at each of said stations during reciprocatory knitting.

19. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knittingstations and adapted to reciprocator-ily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn fingers movable into and out offeeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively-control said positions of said fingers at each'of said stations, additional means to cyclically control said positions of said yarn fingers at each of'said stations during reciprocatory knitting, and means including said pattern means to change the yarn fingers controlled by said additional means.

20. A circular knitting machine having at least one knitting station and adapted to reciprocatorily kn-it at said station, a plurality of'yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at said station, pattern means to selectively control the movement of said fingers between said positions at said station, and additional means to cyclically control the movement of said yarn fingers between said positions at said station, the control cycle comprising four strokes of reciprocatory knitting.

21. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control said fingers, an intermittently movable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control said fingers during reciprocatory knitting, and means for movingrs'aid ring member once for each successive pair of said strokes.

2 2. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positionsat each of said stations, pattern means to selectively control said yarn fingers, an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with said fingers at each of said stations to control said fingers, means to oscillate said ring member, and means to idle said ring member.

23. A circular knitting machine having at least one knitting station and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at said station, pattern meansto selectively control said yarn fingers, an intermittently oscillatable member adapted to alter- 12 nately move certain of said yarn fingers during reciprocatory knitting, and finger operating members interposed between said oscillatable member and said certain yarn fingers to move the latter in accordance with the position of the former.

24. A circular knitting machine having at least one knitting station and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said station, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at said station, pattern means to selectively control said yarn fingers, an intermittently oscillatable member adapted to alternately move certain of said yarn fingers during reciprocatory knitting, and finger operating members interposed between said oscillatable member and said certain yarn fingers to move the latter in accordance with the position of the former, each of said finger operating members being capable of moving at least a pair of said yarn fingers.

25. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations and adapted to reciprocatorily knit at said stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, at least a pair of finger raising members at each of said stations, each of said finger raising members being operatively associated with at least a pair of fingers to move the same into and out of said yarn yarn fingers into and out of yarn feeding positions at each of said stations, and an intermittently oscillatable ring member operatively associated with and adapted to,

alternately move the finger raising members at each of said stations, the finger raising members being operative on those fingers of said pairs of fingers which have been moved into feeding position by said pattern means.

26. A circular knitting machine having at least one knitting station, a plurality of pivotally mounted yarn feeding fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding position at said station, at least one pivotally mounted finger raising member at said station, said finger raising member having a pin operatively related to at least a pair of fingers to move the same into and out of said yarn feeding positions, pattern means to selectively move said fingers into and out of said yarn feeding positions, and intermittently oscillatable means to cyclically move said finger raising member, the latter member moving the fingers moved into yarn feeding position by said pattern means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,128 Swinglehurst Oct. 27, 1914 1,211,372 Scott Jan. 2, 1917 2,092,347 Caudle et al. Sept. 7, 1937 2,217,022 Lawson et al. Oct. 8, 1940 T ar; 

